HISTORICAL ROMANCE REVIEW with Regan Walker

Love historical romance? Well, you've come to the right place! This is a blog for avid readers (and authors) of historical romance.
I started it to help other readers find the good ones...the keepers. In addition to authors guest blogging, I will share my reviews of those I've rated 4 and 5 stars, my favorite authors, my "best" lists and occasionally a special post. Come join us!

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Geddes MacGregor once wrote, “No one in Scotland can escape from the past. It is everywhere, haunting like a ghost." Scotland’s past is the subject of this list, romance novels set in Scotland, most in that magical part of Scotland called the Highlands. Some are romances with a Scottish hero or heroine. All are rated 4 or 5 stars. Enjoy!

·A Dangerous Love, The Border Lord's Bride, The Captive Heart, The Border Lord And The Lady, The Border Vixen and Bond Of Passion (from The Border Chronicles) by Bertrice Small

·A Gentle Feuding by Johanna Lindsey

·A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

·A Year and a Day by Virginia Henley

·Abducted Heiress by Amanda Scott

·Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

·Beloved Rogue by Penelope Williamson

·Border Lord by Arnette Lamb

·Bound to the Highlander by Kate Robbins

·Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas

·Charming the Shrew and Daring the Highlander (MacLeod duology) by Laurin Wittig

·Children of the Mist by Aleen Malcolm

·Claimed by Tarah Scott

·Clandara by Evelyn Anthony

·Come The Morning, Conquer the Night, Seize the Dawn, Knight Triumphant, The Lion in Glory, When We Touch and The Queen’s Lady (the Graham series) by Heather Graham Pozzessere

Monday, May 21, 2018

I love Virginia Henley's ability to immediately put me in the middle of an exciting story involving people with strong passions dealing with difficult circumstances. The Border Hostage is no exception. It reminds me of the pirate stories I love: a strong hero who takes what he wants though he has a gentle and noble heart; and a heroine who will not be captured even if her heart longs for the man who abducts her. All this and Scotland, too! I do recommend reading Tempted first as this is the 2nd in Henley's Clan Kennedy Saga and is truly a sequel with some of the same characters as the first.

The story is set in 1514 on the Borderlands between Scotland and England after Flodden Field where King James IV was killed. Young James V, still a toddler, is being raised under the watchful eye of his English mother (Henry VIII's sister) and the Earl of Angus, acting as guardian for the young king. Tina who is married to Black Ram Douglas is about to give birth to twins and her half brother, a bastard and half Gypsy, Heath Kennedy, is raising horses at the Douglas Castle. A raid by Scottish borderers nearly costs Heath his life.

In an act to recover his horses and have his revenge, Heath captures the Dacre heir (for ransom) and his betrothed, the dark-haired Raven Clarendon. Heath has seen Raven before and wants her for his own, so he decides he will not let her go when the Dacre heir is ransomed.

Raven is a wonderful heroine, fiercely independent and innocent (though not unaware of the ways of men). She is a free spirit who is trained by her grandmother in the ways of the Craft, a natural healer and (unusual for a woman), a falcon trainer.

This is a case of love at first encounter. Heath was quite clear about his desire to possess the lovely Raven. He'd had many women but she was the first to capture his heart. While Raven was attracted to Heath, she was trying to please her parents and marry the man she thought she was supposed to. That is so very believable.

This was a worthy sequel to Tempted. Frankly, I enjoyed the two books so much I was hoping there were more in this saga. Henley does a superb job of weaving in the history of a tumultuous time in Scotland's history with compelling tales of love. She created such wonderful characters I wanted to see more of them.

Friday, May 18, 2018

In a complex, lusty tale of feuding Scottish clans during the time of James IV of Scotland and Henry VIII of England, Henley serves up a story that will grab you from the first page and will not let you go. I loved it. Henley has the ability to capture not only the time period, but also the culture of the borderlands between Scotland and England and the difficult but wonderful relationship between two stubborn, courageous people. I highly recommend this one.

Set in Scotland in 1512, this is the story of clans Douglas, Hamilton and Kennedy. Beautiful Valentina Kennedy, the oldest of the Kennedy daughters, was known as Flaming Tina for her glorious red-gold hair and her feisty temper. She was raised with her sister and brothers in Castle Doon in Ayr on the Southwest coast of Scotland where her father ruled as the Lord of Galloway. Tina despaired the lot of women that prevented them from enjoying male pursuits, and she frequently joined her brothers in their activities.

When Tina turns 17, her father insists she say yes to one of her many suitors. Tina thinks to marry the Hamilton heir but is happy when a gypsy tells her there will be no wedding for her this year. In a surprising turn of events, she is handfasted to her enemy, the powerful Black Ram Douglas, who she considers a brute of a man. Tina intends to have her revenge.

Henley develops some wonderful characters, including the ghosts of two star-crossed lovers from the past (another Kennedy and Douglas pairing), who constantly entertain. She paints vivid word pictures of the food, clothing and castles that draw you in and help you experience the times--and she does it all very well. In a fitting climax to the story, she superbly describes the battle between the English and Scots at Flodden where Scotland experienced a terrible defeat.

The second in the 2-book Clan Kennedy Saga is The Border Hostage and I recommend it, too!

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Set at the outset of the American Revolution, beginning in December 1773, this is the story of Ian MacGregor, who was wounded by a British soldier after participating in the Boston Tea Party. Ian fled to the wilderness of Massachusetts where he ended up in the barn of the Murphys and in the care of the young Irish widow, Alanna Murphy Flynn.

Alana is immediately attracted to the red-haired rebel but she fears his talk of revolution, not just for herself but for her brothers. Ian has fallen in love with Alana and means to have her as his wife. But he’ll need his aunt in Virginia to help him.

Brilliant descriptions and beautifully developed characters bring this story and the MacGregors to life.

Revolution is coming to America and while Alanna would resist, Ian knows America must fight for her freedom. Roberts adroitly weaves the conflicting emotions of the time into a love story between two strong-willed people. It’s a well told, fast-paced novella and so good one could only hope for more.

The first story in the MacGregor series is Rebellion and I highly recommend it. However, all of the others that follow In From the Cold are, sadly, contemporaries. Would that Roberts would have continued writing historicals as it would have been fascinating to see her tell the history of America along with the MacGregor love stories. She did historicals so well.

Monday, May 14, 2018

Set in the Highlands in 1720, this is the story of Logan Rutherford, Laird of Lockelieth Keep, who was betrothed when he was six to Mayra Findlay, then a baby. They meet again when she is eighteen. He has decided to pose as his lookalike cousin, Coburn Wallace, to get a look at his soon-to-be bride. At issue is her dowry, half of which Logan’s father squandered before he died and the other half which Logan needs to save his lands.

Mayra thinks her absent betrothed is uncaring—he never answers her letters—and so she is determined tend it. Besides, she needs the remaining half of her dowry to save her family’s home. But she needs Logan’s help and the king’s permission. When she meets the handsome Coburn Wallace (never realizing he is Logan), she has another reason—she has fallen in love.

This is #1 in the Heart of a Scot series and it’s a good start, a witty story well told of Logan and Mayra’s slide into love. Cameron tosses in some unusual words and phrases that will make you smile and some Scottish brogue that gives the story an authentic feel.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.” ~ Stevie Wonder

I wish you all a wonderful Mother’s
Day full of good memories. My mother was a busy single mom, but she took time
to teach me to read when I was four and took me to the library every Saturday
morning to get some books. She was a great example and I miss her.

Friday, May 11, 2018

I have been to Scotland several times and one of my favorites was in September when the heather was blooming. The picture below is one I took. You can see all the photos from my trip on Pinterest HERE.

Heather on Skye in September

From Elizabeth Stuart's HEARTSTORM, comes one of my favorite quotes. These are thethoughts of Anne MacKinnon, the heroine:

“Autumn in the Highlands would be brief—a
glorious riot of color blazing red across the moors and gleaming every shade of
gold in the forests of sheltered glens. Those achingly beautiful images would
be painted again and again across the hills and in the shivering waters of the
mountain tarns until the harsh winds of winter sent the last quaking leaf to
its death on the frozen ground.”

Autumn near Stirling

If you'd like to read one of my historical romances set in Scotland, I have three to offer you:

Rebel Warrior and The Refuge tell the story of Steinar of Talisand and Catriona
of the Vale of Leven and take place in the court of King Malcolm III and Queen
Margaret. The Refuge is the inspirational version.

See them on Amazon along
with A Secret Scottish Christmas, my newest Christmas story, a Regency in the
Agents of the Crown series.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

The story begins in 1735 when Serena MacGregor’s home in the Highlands is invaded by British dragoons and her mother is raped by their leader who wants to shame a Highland’s chief’s wife. And that night hatred for the English was born in Serena. Ten years later, in 1745, her brother Coll brings home his friend, Brigham Langston, whose mother might have been a MacDonald but he is English.

Serena means to hate Brigham but ends up falling in love. Brigham wants the fiery tempered lass and means to have her. But there is a matter of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 that will interfere.

It’s a time of rebellion in the Highlands as the Scots, sick of English oppression, long for their Bonnie Prince Charlie, their “king across the waters” to return and reclaim his throne. The Germans may reign in England but the Scots want their true king restored.

When I read about the Battle of Culloden that took place in 1746 and see the images that represent that fateful day, I am always deeply saddened. Not just for the battle that was lost or the thousands of Scots slain, but for the cruelty of England inflicted thereafter on a generation of Highlanders. The English destroyed a way of life.

Roberts brings this time in Scotland’s history to life with superb storytelling, wonderful characters and brilliant dialog. Rich in historical detail and passion-filled love, this is a keeper. I fell in love with Brigham whose heart beat to the Highlands though he was an English lord. And I cheered on Serena as she finally decided to claim the man her own heart could not deny.

First published in 1988, this is the story of the historical roots for Roberts’ contemporary MacGregor series. I am so sorry she gave us only two historical romance novels before moving on to other genres as her historicals are very, very good.

About Regan

I am an avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance, as well as a published author of Georgian, Regency and Medieval romances. (You can access my books below, or on my Amazon Author Page or on my Author website.)

My book reviews are candid assessments of what I read and may not agree with all. While I post all my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, I only post here those I've rated 4 or 5 stars. I try to provide useful information, series lists and my opinion on whether you would enjoy the story. I try to find the keepers--the ones you want to read and re-read.

“Regan Walker is an excellent reviewer. Doesn't pull any punches but praises good work. I trust her.” SHIRLEE BUSBEE, NY Times Bestselling author

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"An unforgettable voyage!"

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"Master storytelling transports you to medieval Scotland!”

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"Mesmerizing Medieval Romance!"

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The Red Wolf's Prize Won the RONE Award (medieval)

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"A dazzling mix of passion, adventure, mystery and love"

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